Charmingly informal white flowers decorate the dropwort from late spring to mid-summer. A relative of meadowsweet, it is more tolerant of dry conditions than other members of its family, preferring a well-drained site in full sun. It is a favourite of gardeners for its ferny leaves and clusters of bloom, mixing well with other unfussy perennial blooms in cottage and meadow gardens. Deer will generally leave it alone, as will other pests. It is sometimes bothered by powdery mildew, but in general is a healthy plant. According to Culpeper, the root powder in white wine is a good remedy for kidney afflictions. Dyers can use a copper mordant to derive a black dye from the roots, and the flowers and leaves can be dried to use in potpourris. Dropwort can be sown directly into the garden after the danger of frost has passed. Sow thinly in rows 60-90cm/2-3 ft apart, cover 3 times the seedsí diameter with soil and keep evenly moist. Thin plants once seedlings appear.